FRANKLIN, REAR-ADMIRAL SIR JOHN, was boru iu 1786 at Spilaby in Lincolnshire. His ancestors were substantial yeomen, and his father inherited an estate in that county, which though small was sufficient to give him local rank ae a landlord. Unhappily however the property was so embarrassed that he was obliged to sell it, and he became entirely dependent on his commercial profits for the maintenance and education of twelvo children, some of whom, besides the subject of this memoir, attained considerable rank and reputa tion. One, Sir Willingham Franklin, became judge at Madras, and another, Major James Franklin of the Bengal Service, was highly distinguished for his scientific acquirements, which procured him the Fellowship of the Royal Society.
John, the youngest son, early evinced a great predilection for a sea life. There is a story told of him which seems to rest on more than mere traditionary evidence. When a school-boy at Louth in Lincoln shire, he availed himself of a holiday to walk to the coast, a distance of twelve miles, in order to see the ocean, on which he gazed with wonder and delight for many hours. Ilis father, who was extremely desirous that his son should follow any other profession than that of a sailor, conceived that by sending him in a small merchant-ship to Lisbon, the discomforts of the voyage would effectually cure the lad of his love for the sea; but it had a totally different effect ; and accord ingly perceiving that•he was bent on a naval profession, he was entered as midshipman on board the Polyphemus at the age of fourteen, and was in that ship iu the celebrated battle of Copenhagen, from which he escaped without a wound, whilst a brother midshipman was killed at his side.
He next joined the Investigator, under the command of Captain Flinders, his cousin by marriage, with whom he sailed ou a voyage of discovery to the coasts of Australia. During this expedition, which combined investigations into natural history with geographical discovery, young Franklin bad abundant opportunities—which were not neglected—of acquiring much 'valuable knowledge. Besides sound
practical seamanship he learned the more theoretical and difficult branches of nautical surveying, and was always one of the midshipmen selected to attend the Captain whenever he made excursion. In boats, or visited the shore for scientific purposes. After some time the Investigator being unfit for further service, the officers were ordered home in the Porpoise. In this ship he was wrecked on a coral reef off the Australian coast, and with 94 persons spent nearly two months on a narrow sandbank only a few feet above the sea.level, whilst Captain Flinders proceeded to l'ort Jackson for relief.
having fortunately escaped the fate of his chief, who on his voyage home was unjustly detained as a prisoner in Mauritius, Franklin pro ceeded to Canton with Captain Fowler, who had charge of the Porpoise, and embarked on board the Earl Camden, commanded by Sir Nathaniel Dance, for the purpose of returning to England. This ship and other Ind amen were attacked by the French admiral, Linois, in the Straits of Malacca, but Sir Nathaniel Dance gallantly defeated his antagonist. During the engagement Franklin acted as signal midshipman, and was of considerable service in other ways.
Shortly after his arrival in England he was appointed to the Captain Laing, and had the charge on board that ship of the signals during the memorable battle of Trafalgar. I t la recorded that he performed this important duty with singular coolness and intrepidity, although many of his brother officers were allot around him. Indeed, out of forty companion', only seven, of whom he was one, came out of the battle unscathed. He now eorved for two years with the Channel fleet end Itochefort squadron, and then joined the Bedford, in which ship be was present at the blockade of Flushing,—off the coast of Portugal,—on the Brazil station,—atid at the attack of New Orleans in 1814. Hors he greatly distinguished 'hiniaelf in a gun-boat action, in the course of which Ile received a slight wound. For his gallant conduct on this occasion he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.